Washing machine water inlet system



ct 13, 1953 H, c, sw

WASHING MACHINE WATER INLET SYSTEM Filed Oct. 31, 1952 mentor- Henr-K Swag,

His CCOK'TWGH.

Patentecl Oct. 13, 1953 WASHING MACHINE WATER INLET SYSTEM Henry C. Sway, Louisville, Ky., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application October 31, 1952, Serial No. 317,924

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to washing machines such as automatic clothes or dishwashers, and more particularly to a water supply system for introducing water into the closed tub or washing vat of such machines.

While urban water supplies are generally reliable from the standpoint of constant water main pressure, occasional failures are inevitable, at which times a negative pressure or suction may exist in some of the branch water distribution lines. Precautions must be taken, therefore, in plumbing connections for automatic washing machines to obviate any risk of drawing or sucking contaminated or soapy water back into the water mains under such abnormal conditions. Similar precautions should be taken, of course, even for private automatic water systems in rural or suburban areas to avoid contamination of the water supply lines, pump, or possibly the well, and thus render the water unfit for drinking purposes. Automatic washing machines present a special problem in this regard since they are connected directly to the water supply lines and fill automatically without the presence of an operator. If a solid water connection is made into the washing tub, the washing fluid may be drawn back into the supply mains in case of a water pressure failure. Furthermore, local plumbing regulations frequently require a so-called vacuum breaker or air gap in the water supply connections to such machines for the purpose of preventing withdrawal of the washing liquid into the water supply mains in case of a water pressure failure.

Correspondingly, it is an object of my invention to provide as an integral part of an automatic washer an improved water supply system which prevents positively any reverse flow of liquid from the washing receptacle back into the supply mains.

A further object of this invention is to arrange the water supply lines within such a machine concealed from view and in a manner not impeding in any way access to the interior of the machine.

Another object of this invention is to arrange such a water supply system within the machine. including an air gap or vacuum breaker, which is self-cleaning and does not result in a concealed trap for harboring dirt or insects.

It is also an object of this invention to arrange for introduction of water into a closed tub with an air gap in the water connection, which also functions to prevent washing liquid from being thrown out of the machine through the air gap.

In accomplishment of the foregoing objectives, a feature of this invention may be summarized in connection with an exemplary embodiment in a dishwashing machine. The machine includes a cabinet with an enclosed washing tub therein, and an access door also forming a front wall for the tub. A water supply tube, adapted to be connected to the supply main, includes a flow control device, and is concealed within the cabinet and outside of the tub, extending to a position over the top wall of the tub. The outlet of this tube passes through the top tub wall adjacent the front lip thereof. A water receiving funnel is carried on the inside surface of the front door, with the funnel inlet in spaced relation from the water tube outlet, but in flow receiving alignment therewith when the door is closed. The outlet end of this funnel discharges directly into the tub. An intermediate portion of the funnel is arranged to provide a water trap, thereby preventing passage of suds or contaminated washing fluid into proximity with the water supply tube, and retaining all of the washing liquid within the washing receptacle.

The features of my invention which I believe to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a dishwashing machine embodying this invention, with portions thereof broken away to illustrate interior details;

Fig. 2 is a partial cross-sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. v3 is a partial plan view taken in section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional elevation of a portion of the device illustrated in Fig. 2, showing with greater clarity details of my improved water inlet means; and

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of one of the components employed in carrying out this invention.

Referring now to the drawings, this invention is illustrated as applied to an automatic dishwasher, although it will be obvious that the teachings hereof are applicable to other types of machines such as automatic clothes washers. In the embodiment illustrated by the drawings, the entire dishwasher, including its operating mechanism, may be enclosed and supported within a suitable framework or cabinet I. As is well-known in the art. such machines are commonly supplied either as free-standing models or as under-counter units, this invention being equally applicable to both. Correspondingly, I have shown only sufficient cabinet detail to form a background for the remaining disclosure. In the usual manner, the cabinet may include a counter surface or sink drain board 2. Also in accordance with current practice the base of the cabinet may be recessed along the front, thus providing a toe space 3.

The actual washing operations in machines of this type take place in an enclosed tub, here shown as having a bottom wall 4, side walls 5, a back wall 6, and a top wall '1. Although no specific arrangement has been shown, the tub may be secured within the cabinet in any suitable manner. As shown in Fig. 2, bottom wall 4 of the tub includes a depressed area 8 into which a quantity of water may be placed along with detergents, as desired, for performing the washing operation. Since the means for propelling the washing liquid with high velocity throughout the space enclosed by the tub forms no part of the present invention, such structure has not been shown, it being understood that any of the numerous arrangements currently on the market can be used for this purpose. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, an internally projecting bead 9 encircles the side and top walls of the tub to provide a water barrier as hereinafter described in greater detail. Bottom wall 4 of the tub includes an upwardly turned flange ID as shown in Fig. 2, also for the purpose of retaining water within the tub. An outer lip ll formed on the top and side walls extends outwardly to the front to provide an ap propriate mating junction with the corresponding edge portions of the cabinet walls.

The washing tub or vat enclosure is completed by a front access door assembly, indicated generally at l2. As shown more clearly in Fig. 2, the door assembly preferably includes an outer shell [3 and an inside door liner [4. Such a wall construction of the door corresponds with the similar tub and cabinet wall construction consisting throughout of double walls. Thus the heat of the washing water is more effectively retained, and likewise the double walls reduce the transmission of sound originating from the washing chamber due to the high velocity water spray. The entire door assembly is hinged with respect to the tub to provide access to the interior of the machine for loading and unloading. For this purpose I prefer to mount a pair of hinge brackets I 5 on the upwardly extending wall I D at the bottom of the tub, which cooperate with hinge plates l6 spot-welded, for example, to door liner [4. This hinged connection is completed in the usual manner by means of hinge pins ll. Thus in the arrangement shown, the door is hinged about a horizontal axis adjacent its lower edge, whereby it may be moved between a substantially horizontal position when open and a vertical position when closed. To complete the Water seal between door and tub, and in cooperation with the internally projecting bead 9 of the tub, the door liner is provided with an inwardly projecting rib l8 encircling the inside surface of the door adjacent its outer edges. A flexible rubber or rubber-like gasket l9 secured to this rib contacts the bead 9 when the door is closed, thereby effectively blocking outward motion of any water impinging upon the junction lines between door and tub. Additionally, a gasket 50 (Fig. 4) may be interposed between the outer rim of the door and the cabinet to cushion closing contact between door and cabinet.

It will be understood, of course, that dishes or utensils to be washed must be placed within the tub, and to support these articles in proper position to achieve the best washing action, I employ one or more dish-racks slidably mounted with respect to the tub. More specifically, and as shown in Fig. 1, I have shown the racks as carried by a frame, including upright members 20 and transverse members 2|. A lower dishrack 22 is fixed to the upright members of the frame by any suitable means, although preferably by welding in order to achieve desired rigidity. The lower terminus of each of the upright frame members is provided with a roller 23, whereby both the frame and the lower rack may be rolled out of the machine when the front door is opened to its horizontal position. The lower rack, of course, may include a plurality of angular disposed and upwardly projecting fingers 24 carried on a suitable framework to provide a support for a plurality of plates, pans, etc. The upper rack 25, also fabricated from a plurality of lengths of corrosion-resistant wire welded together to provide a unitary structure, is supported at the front portion thereof by V-blocks 26 slidably resting on the top of supporting frame 20. The rear portion of the upper rack may be mounted by means of rack members 21 slidable on tracks 28 fixed to side walls 5 of the tub. This arrangement permits independent movement of the upper rack with respect to the lower rack, thereby facilitating loading and unloading without complete removal of either of the racks from the machine. Such a rack construction is described in more detail and claimed in the copending application of Carl R. Sebens, application Serial No. 317,798, filed October 30, 1952, assigned to the General Electric (30., assignee of the present invention.

An important feature of automatic washing machines, from the standpoint of the housewife, lies in the ability of the machine to perform all of the washing and rinsing operations without further attention. This, of course, necessitates an arrangement whereby an appropriate quantity of water is introduced into the machine at proper times. correspondingly, the machine includes as an integral part thereof a water supply pipe 29, having its terminus preferably at the back of the machine in a convenient position for connection with the water supply main. Since the present embodiment is described as a dishwasher, I have shown only one such water supply line for hot water. It is to be understood, of course, that cold water likewise could be brought to the machine and mixed with the incoming hot water prior to discharge into the washing chamber. To control the quantity of water entering the machine, any suitable valve and metering device, which might also include a hot and cold mixing chamber, can be inserted in the water supply line. In Figs. 1 and 2, I have illustrated such a device at 30, connected to the incoming water supply pipe 29 by a clamp nut 3|. This combined valve and metering device may be controlled by a solenoid 32 carried thereby. Preferably, the water flow control means is mounted in the free space within the cabinet below the dishwashing tub. To convey water from the flow control to the interior of the machine I employ a water supply tube 33, connected to the flow control mechanism by a nut 34. This supply tube is concealed within the cabinet and extends outside of the washing tub to a position over the top wall of the tub. As shown more clearly in Fig. 4 the water supply tube 33 terminates in an elbow 35 having a flange 36 thereon. The end of this elbow below the flange projects through an aperture in lip ll of the top wall, and is clamped in position within this aperture by a flange nut 31 with a pair of fibre washers on opposite sides of the tub wall. Water supply tube 33 preferably is additionally supported with respect to the cabinet at one or more points, for example, by a mounting bracket 39 secured to a reinforcing channel 40 of the cabinet, as shown in Fig. 3.

It is to be noted from Figs, 2 and 4 that the outlet of the water supply tube is positioned in the top wall of the tub outwardly toward the front door beyond the position of the seal effected by gasket l9 and bead 9. Hence, to provide for entrance of water into the tub when discharged from tube 33 I arranged a pair of aligned apertures 4| and 42 through a portion of the internally projecting rib l8 of the door liner. These apertures are also aligned with the discharge opening 43 of the water supply tube. Within the lower aperture 42 is mounted a funnel 44, conveniently formed of a flexible rubber-like material and having an annular groove 45 in the mouth or inlet end 46 thereof. Funnel 44 is mounted to be in a substantially vertical position when the door is closed, so that inrushing water flows downwardly therethrough to be discharged from an outlet end 41 of the funnel into the washing tub. To provide adequate clearance for the funnel discharge in the particular arrangement illustrated by the drawing, I have found it desirable to shape the door liner with an indentation 411 in the vicinity of outlet 41. As clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the lower portion of funnel 44 is curved upwardly in a U-shape to provide thereby a water trap 49 within which a quantity of water will always remain when the door is closed, thus providing a water seal within the funnel.

It is to be particularly noted that outlet 43 of the supply tube, while being in flow discharge alignment with the inlet to the funnel, is in spaced relation with respect thereto resulting in an air gap or vacuum breaker in the water supply path entering the machine. Hence, if there is any failure in water supply pressure, or more particularly, if a pressure failure in the main results in a vacuum or partial vacuum in supply tube 33, it can be seen that it is impossible for liquid to be withdrawn from the machine through the water supply tube. Also, with this construction the water supply means is entirely concealed from view and in no way interferes with opening or closing of the machine or with loading and unloading of the contents. Nevertheless, the air gap, being located at the front of the machine, is readily accessible for inspection, and to comply with inspection regulations in some communities, a removable escutcheon plate obviously can be mounted in the front door to permit inspection of the device in operation. Furthermore, upon completion of a washing operation and when the door is opened to a horizontal position, trap 49 in the funnel automatically will be drained, with the drained liquid remaining in door indentation 48 until the door subsequently is closed. The trap further functions when the door is closed to bar the passage of the washing solution into the space within the door and outside of the seal formed by gasket l9. While I have shown gasket 50 between the door and the cabinet, the primary purpose of this gasket is to cushion the closing motion of the door against the cabinet, although a secondary water seal results rendering a more thorough water seal when the door is closed.

While this invention has been described by reference to a particular embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that numerous modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without actually departing from the invention. Therefore, I aim in the appended claims to cover all such equivalent variations as come within the true spirit and scope of the foregoing disclosure.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a dishwashing machine including a cabinet enclosing and supporting an enclosed washing tub having vertical rear and side walls, a water supply system for said tub comprising a front closure door for said tub having an outer shell and an inside liner, means on said door forming an outer water seal with said cabinet when said door is closed, gasket means carried by said door liner cooperating with wall means on inside surfaces of said tub to provide an inside water seal between said tub and door, a water supply conduit extending within the cabinet and outside of the tub to a position over the top wall of the tub, a water inlet on said conduit projecting through said tub top wall in a position between said inner and outer seals, a funnel carried by said door liner having inlet and outlet openings with liquid trap means therebetween, said door being movable from a vertical closed position in which the inlet opening of said funnel is in water receiving relation with said conduit outlet and said funnel outlet discharges into said tub, to a substantially horizontal open position in which liquid retained in said trap means is drained therefrom.

2. In a dishwashing machine including a cabinet enclosing and supporting an enclosed washing tub with vertical rear and side walls, a front access door hinged to said tub and forming a front wall therefor when in closed position, a water supply system for said tub comprising, a water supply tube extending within said cabinet and outside of said tub to a lip portion on the top wall of said tub adjacent the front edge thereof, an outlet on said supply tube passing through said tub lip, said front door having an outer shell and an inside liner, means on said outer shell providing an outer seal with said cabinet when said door is closed, gasket means carried by said inside liner cooperating with wall portions of said tub to provide an inside seal for retaining water within said tub, and a water receiving funnel carried by said door having inlet and outlet openings and awater trap therebetween, said door being movable from a vertical closed position in which said funnel inlet opening is in liquid flow alignment with said tube outlet and said funnel outlet discharges into said tub, to a substantially horizontal open position in which liquid retained in said trap is drained therefrom.

3. In a dishwashing machine including a cabinet enclosing and supporting a washing tub with closure means for said tub, a water supply system for said machine comprising, a water inlet tube extending outside of said washing tub to a position in proximity to said tub closure, an outlet on said tube having its discharge end extending through the tub wall at said position, and a funnel carried by said closure means, said funnel including an inlet positioned in flow receiving alignment with said tube outlet and with an appreciable air gap between said tube outlet and funnel inlet when said closure means is in its closed position, a funnel outlet discharging into said tub, and an intermediate portion of said funnel forming a liquid trap in the flow path between said funnel inlet and outlet, said closure means being pivotally connected to said tub and movable through an arc of substantially ninety degrees from its closed position to an open position in which the liquid retained in said trap is drained therefrom.

4. In a dishwashing machine having a cabinet carrying an enclosed washing tub with a front access door hinged to said tub and forming a vertical front wall therefor when in closed position, a water supply system for said tub comprising, a water supply tube including flow control means therein and extending within said cabinet and outside of said tub to a position over the top wall of said tub adjacent the front edge thereof, an outlet on said supply tube for discharge of washing liquid through said tub top wall at said position, a funnel carried on an inside surface of said front door and in a vertical position when said door is closed with respect to the tub with the funnel inlet in alignment with the discharge flow path from said outlet, said funnel inlet being spaced from said tube outlet to provide an air gap in the liquid flow path, and means defining a liquid trap within said funnel between the inlet and outlet openings thereof, said door being movable to a substantially horizontal open position in which liquid retained in said trap is drained therefrom.

5. An automatic washing machine comprising, a washing tub defined by enclosing walls with one of said walls pivotally mounted as a closure member for said tub, gasket means interposed between said closure member and adjacent tub walls providing a water seal, a water supply tube having a discharge end extending through one of said adjacent tub walls in proximity to said closure member and exteriorly of said gasket means, and a funnel carried by said closure member, said funnel having an inlet, an outlet, and a water trap intermediate said inlet and outlet, said closure member being movable through an arc of substantially ninety degrees from a closed position in which said funnel inlet is in flow receivin relation with said tube discharge and spaced, therefrom to provide an air gap in the flow path, and said funnel outlet discharges directly into said tub, to an open position in which liquid retained in said trap is drained therefrom.

6. In an automatic dishwasher, a washing tub defined by enclosing walls with one of said walls forming a front opening door hinged to said tub, water seal means interposed between said door and adjacent tub side walls, a water supply tube having a discharge end positioned adjacent said door and exteriorly of said water seal means, a funnel member carried by said door, said funnel including an inlet in flow receiving relation with said tube discharge end and spaced therefrom to form an air gap in the flow path, a funnel outlet discharging directly into said tub, and means defining a water trap within said funnel intermediate said funnel inlet and outlet, said door being movable through an arc of substantially ninety degrees from its closed position to an open position in which liquid retained in said trap is drained therefrom.

7. In an automatic dishwashing machine, a washing tub defined by enclosing walls and open at one side thereof, front door means hinged to said tub and movable into a substantially vertical closed position with respect to said tub, means on said door cooperating with adjacent walls of said tub forming a water seal, a water inlet tube terminating in a discharge end positioned over the top edge of said front door and outwardly of the seal between said door and tub, and a funnel having inlet and outlet openings and a water trap therebetween, said door being movable from said closed position in which said funnel inlet opening is positioned in alignment with said tube discharge end and said funnel outlet discharges into said tub to a substantially horizontal open position in which liquid retained in said trap is drained therefrom, and means securing said funnel to said door.

HENRY C. SWAY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,769,836 Holmes July 1, 1930 2,535,226 O'liver Dec. 26, 1950 2,552,398 Briggs May 8, 1951 2,562,533 Dunlop July 31, 1951 2,566,469 Tea Sept. 4, 1951 2,619,825 Rosenkrans Dec. 2, 1952 

